Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, has issued a statement regarding the band's plans via his official website, Iommi.com: "I just want to say how overwhelmed I am with all your messages of support, thank you so much. Well, it's not what I wanted for Christmas, that's for sure, but now I can't wait for the test results to come in and get going with the treatment.

As we had the displeasure of reporting yesterday, Black Sabbath guitarist -- and the widely recognized father of heavy metal -- Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with lymphoma and is working with his doctors to devise the best treatment plan possible.

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with lymphoma, according to an official statement from Black Sabbath. The band maintain that this will not push back the recording/release of their new album, which is scheduled for a fall release.

In 1969, a long-haired band arrived out of nowhere, brandishing a heavy sound and dark vibe that was completely at odds with the "get back to the garden" idealism of the Woodstock generation. The band's jazz-influenced drummer was almost physically incapable of playing a straight 4/4 beat, and the guitarist had lost the tips of two fret-hand digits in a freak industrial accident.